The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-06
A Competitive Beauty Exhibition Ends
Without an Award Being Made.
Clara Fathoms the Secret of Dressing Lavish
" on Thousand Dollars Year, and Tells
How the Great Feat Is Achieved.
How Smart New York Shop Girls Man.
age to Look Stylish in Cheap Clothes.
Statement of Things to Be Carried There
in-Pamelia in Strange Bedroom.

Special to the Indiana polls Journal.
NEW YORK, Nov. 5.-The wells had q curious
competitive exhibition of beautiful girls the
other night at the Meadoworook Clubhouse.
where a ball followed day of riding to hounds.
It had been q great event tor the spectacularly-
fashionable set, and the most exquisite bellies
backs of their horses in miles of equessrianism
across Westchester fields. There dis
cussion Of the comparative beauty Of some Of
the famous society girls present, and Tom How
ard, noted leader of the german, proposed
cotillion. in which the selected loveiness of
eight girls should be brought together for ad
mrasion and comparison. This plan
realized, and il isn't likely that any ballet
ever danced that had more intensely interested
lot of spectators You have seen the eagerness
of a street crowd to see fight between news
boys-how they iostle and push to get view
of the contestantsa Well, this was awfully po-
lite, of course, and it would be sacrilege to
likeu the dancers to ragamufins. but the same
sort of struggle to see them was there Some of
the names of the beauties may be familiar to
you at distance. and here Il town they arc
synonyms for ravishing comeliness. They were
Adele Grant, May Brady, Esther Conant,
Marion Story, Mamie Winsiow, Regina
Rives, Mollie Warner and Bessie Bigelow.
Their partners only worth mentioning as
being, like themselves. we'll within the charmed
circle of the Astors. It was a memorable
quadrille. but the witnesses could not agree as
to who was the queen of it.
There is one question, however, which this
same coterie has settled for itself. Mrs. James
Brown Potter. who made her expected artistic
failure in her theatrical debut this week, but
who nevertheless stirred the town by it, is not
to be socially boycotted for becoming q profess
sional actress. Mrs. William Astor has had her
to dinner. and that is conclusive. The line of
taboo runs beyond Mrs. Potter, but this side of
Mrs Langtry. and it was with distinct purpose
and policy that Mrs Potter snubbed Mrs. Lang
try whom they chauced to meet on the stage
where one was rehearsing and the other was
performing. The London beauty had sacrificed
her standing in society for her love of Fred Geb-
hard, and the New York beauty meant to keep
her position.
Although know that most men are fcnd Of
saying that women think and talk of istle else
than dressing, and in spite of the very worst
that l supposed was true of us, confess that
received a shock when little lady of my ac-
quaintance les me into what she called ''her lit
tic game koE usceSluR iaslSuiy on tuOuSauu
year. She took me to presentious dwelling
Murray Hill, where 1 found the walls of what
was once the parIor hung with dresses three
deep and piles of others the tables and chairs.
The dwarrof man in charge of the place
greeted my friend warmly, and asked her
whether she wanted an indoor or a walking suit.
Wornanlike, she replied that she wished to see
whatever he had. At that he began to take
aff alu
panying the gown with some such remark as
Here is one which will tell you in strict conf
6ence / got from Mrs. Rhinelandar." or Here
is perfect beauty made by Worth only three
you" Every gown was coupled with the name
of some millionaire lady and credited to some
notable architect of fashionable figures.
''You see, miss" the man said to me, ssthe
wealthy and fashionable ladies are obliged TO
have twenty times as many dresses AS they can
wear. They dare not appear more than a very
fe W times in one suit because they move in very
small circles. and dresses become old In month
under such circumstances, when they have
been before all the lady's friends the
second time. There is where practical phan-
thropy steps in. l relieve the ladies of them
low prices, and sell them for a mere fraction
of their cost, making a handsome profit besides
The ladies care little what l give for their
gowns. every cent is clear gain to them and
then they devote the money to charity. It is
a new fad of benevoence"
rs it possible" 1 exclaimed: that these are
tndt Lney nave Oeou worn:
/ meant to express some of the incredulity
that felt. but the man took what said a
com plment to the gowns.
Il do not wonder you ask that" said he, ''for
many OF these suits are not even wrinkled
mused. To find one soiled anywhere is a
thing and as for there being worn / never had
one offered to me that showed the least sign of
ir. You see how it is: When lady like Mrs
Astor finds her closets filed with dresses in
which she has already appeared two three
times she sends for me. She wants room to
han nm har She
fourteen dresses, or perhaps she has twice
many; chow much will you give for rhemP
name a figure ana she accepts IT, or asks for
hundred more than L offer. She gets IL, OF
course, and take the garments from her."
"Ah, l see" said /, saving more. but
serving the privilege of thinking. Il suppose
must be flaicky. but, upon my word and honor, l
could not bear to touch one of those dresses with
the tips of my walking gloves"
"You are so proud that you ought 20 be very
rich to get along in this world said my thrifty
friend as she walked out with me after ordering
one of Mrs. Jllsey's last winters opera dresses
sent to her address. She said that she meant TO
fit in a neck and sleeves. so TO alter the dress
from decollete to plain regular gown. She
told me that the ladies who buy at this second
hand shop seldom wear one of the gowns they
buy 1t. One resort ia to buy two of such goods
that the overskirt aud waist of will do for
the other and vice In this way they
fancy that IL they should meet the original
owner in the street SIT in front of her at the
theater she would not recognize her own gown.
If it was like most of those l saw, III warrant t
would be recognized. for when q lady picks M
IN odd and costly pattern abroad, or has Paris
artist design a brand gown, she never ex-
poets to one like it, and If she discovers
waist or oversight of peculiar piece of goods,
and peculiarly put together. she knows that e
8 the same old gown on a new pair of shoulders.
Why, / would more give any other woman
hat advantage over me than / would accept a
lress from a stranger as gift. but it is evident
hat I have never realized before what a hold
The passion for rich robing has taken upon my
lex.
There IS somathine admirable iu the way the
the little shop girls manage To appear well as
hey do. You know, I suppose. that in this city
The counter-girls are often very becomingly
dressed, and quite in the mode so far cut and
tiy,a